By TERRY NAU

Sports editor

EAST PROVIDENCE – It has been four years since East Providence ruled the Division I girls volleyball scene. The Townies last captured the title in 2005 and then were defeated in the finals the next two years running.
“Last year, we got beat by La Salle in the semifinals,” E.P coach Alex Butler mentioned on Monday evening.
The Townies begin their title quest on Friday evening against the winner of tonight’s Burrillville-Toll Gate first-round showdown. Looming in the top half of E.P.’s bracket is Division I-South runnerup North Kingstown, which finished the season with a 13-5 mark.
East Providence compiled a 17-1 record while winning the North Division regular season title by a comfortable 4-game margin over La Salle (13-5). The Rams are seeded second in the other side of the Division I bracket behind undefeated Prout, which finished 18-0 on the season.
Prout defeated East Providence by a 3-0 margin in an early-season meeting, then edged the Townies 2-1 during a Columbus Day tournament.
“They beat us 15-13 in the third game,” Butler admitted. “They’re a very balanced team with hitters who can hit from all over the floor and a setter who does a great job of distributing the ball. Anyone planning to beat them is going to have to play a very solid game.”
Butler feels like his squad is peaking at the right time.
“I think we are just starting to play our best volleyball,” said the third-year head coach, who earned All-State honors in both volleyball and basketball during his high school days at East Providence back in the early 1990s.
“We had some injuries and sickness in the middle of the year. Our defense has really come together in the last two or three weeks. La Salle gave us a really good test in our last match and that’s just what we needed going into the playoffs.”
East Providence fields a strong and deep team this year, led by senior co-captains Jessica Amaral and Amanda Cabral.
“Amanda led us in kills this year,” Butler said. “Jessica is our libero, probably the best in the state in returning serves. She receives 70 percent of the serves and finished with well over 200 digs this season.”
Junior Charlotte Newton teams with Cabral in the outside hitting position.
“Charlotte started the season setting and playing on the right side,” Butler said, “but we moved her outside because we needed a little more firepower.”
Morganne Booker and Kimberly Thomas share the middle hitter positions.
“Morganne is a senior with a lot of experience,” Butler said, “while Kim Thomas is a sophomore who was pressed into action and has gotten better every day. She really solidified the position for us.”
Ashley Curti and Brittany Pietruska  lend their passing and defensive skills to the overall team game that East Providence favors. Sophomore Alexandria Amaral serves as a setter and is an effective server, Butler said.
Kelsey Durand is a senior who plays opposite Alex Amaral on the right side of the court.
“Kelsey is working hard to master the position,” Butler said.
This year’s team has attracted a lot of attention at East Providence High, where volleyball ranks as a major sport on a level with basketball, something Butler knows a lot about, having played both sports during his high school career.
“Basketball was always my first passion,” the coach said. “I picked up volleyball late to get in shape for basketball. I really enjoyed the sport and started to coach under Luis Carvalho, my high school coach who did so much for volleyball during his coaching career at E.P. I learned so much from Luis that I don’t even know where to start in telling you about his influence on me. The best compliment I can get is when people tell me I coach the same way as Luis.”
Volleyball crowds are substantial at East Providence during the regular season and some of the games are televised on the local cable access channel.
“If you are looking for a sport that is fast, high-paced with continual action,” Butler said, “volleyball is for you. It’s not easy to pick up all the strategy. It’s even tougher to learn the strategy when you are playing the game. But the kids fall in love with the sport here at East Providence. Coach Carvalho enjoyed a huge amount of success during his career. He started a tradition of winning that we are just trying to carry on.”